Turbine sewer cleaner



1366- s. M. WEAVER ET AL 2,062,850

TURBINE SEWER CLEANER Filed Aug. 9, 1933 4 2 sheets-sheet -1 h "h k y LATTORNEYIS 1935- s. M. WEAVER ET AL 7 TURBINE SEWER CLEANER Filed Aug.9, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 fi ose connect'c'a z INVENTORS I ply Waterthereto.

Patented Dec. 1, 1936' TURBINE SEWER CLEANER Stuart M. Weaver and RobertE. Neis, Monroe,- Mich.

Application August 9, 1933, Serial No. 684,460

5 Claims.

The invention relates to sewer cleaners of that type in which a rotarynozzle supplied with water from a hose and also provided with scraperblades or knives is adapted to be drawn through the sewer to clean thesame. With such constructions it is desirable to hold the rotary nozzleor turbine as nearly as possible in concentric relation with the axis ofthe sewer so as to clean equally all walls thereof. It is, however,essential that the supporting structure for this nozzle or turbineshould freely pass through .all portions of the sewer and adapt itselfto variations in cross sectional area due to misalignment of thesections or from other causes. To fulfill these conditions and also toform an efficient cleaning tool We have designed .a construction havingvarious novel and useful features, as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our improved cleaning tool, partly inlongitudinal section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 2 illustrating thecentrifugally actuated brushes and scrapers;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a portion of one of the runners of slightlymodified construction adapted for use in sewers of large diameters;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the hose connecting fitting.

Our improved tool comprises a tubular core member A which at its rearend is provided with a coupling fitting B for attachment to the watersupplying hose. At the forward end of this tubular core is mounted arotary turbine head C provided with a plurality of nozzles D, cuttingknives E and brushes F. The turbine head is journaled on the end of thetubular core, preferably by providing a cap G having a threadedengagement with the end of said tubular core and having a flangedbearing portion G. A collar H is secured to the core spaced from the capG and is also provided with a bearing portion H and outwardly extendingflange H The head C has at its opposite ends the journal portions C forengaging the bearing portions G, H, and intermediate these portions areinwardly extending portions C which have a running fit upon the tubularcore. The head 0 has an annular channel I therein opening between theportions C and .a series of ports J in the tubular core communicatingwith this channel to sup- This water is discharged through the nozzle Din a direction oblique to its axis and such as: to impart a spiralmovement to the stream within the sewer.

The cutting knives E are provided with shanks E having a dovetailengagement with recesses in the head C from which the knives project 5forwardly and have cutting edges both at their ends and one side. Thebrushes F are centrifugally operated to be pressed outward against theinner wall of the sewer and to this end the brush holders F are securedto the head by pivot pins F parallel to the axis of rotation and thebrushes are inclined to have a trailing engagement with the wall of thesewer. The brush holders F are also provided with cutting knives Fhaving their cutting edges projecting in the 15 direction of rotation.

To support the tool centrally within the sewer conduit and also toreceive the reaction from the rotary nozzles and cutting knives, thecore member A has connected thereto a carriage com- 20 prising a seriesof runners K. As shown, there are four of these runners arranged inpairs in transverse planes, each runner being formed of a bar of channelcross section having its opposite end portions K curved radially inward.25 The runners are supported by links L which at their outer ends arepivotally connected within the channel and at their inner ends arepivotally connected to sleeves M slidably mounted on the core A. Each ofthese sleeves M has out- 30 wardly extending ears M between which thelinks. L are pivoted by pins M There are preferably pairs of oppositelyinclined links connecting to each end of the runner and between thesleeves M of each pair there is secured to the core member A a stopcollar N for limiting movement of said sleeves and outward movement ofthe runners. Loops or eyes N attached to these collars serve forreattachment of the drawing cable by which the tool, after passingthrough the sewer, may be completely drawn intoa small manhole tofacilitate detachment of hose as hereinafter explained. A coil spring 0sleeved upon the core member A between the collars M of the oppositepairs serves to resiliently press said sleeves towards the stop collarsN and thereby to resiliently press the runners radially outward.

The cap G is provided at its forward end with an eye G for attachment ofa drawing cable and the coupling B is provided with two loops B and Bfor attachment of a trailing cable and for anchorage of the hose whiledisconnecting the machine.

The tool being constructed as described, in use 55 it is attached bymeans of the coupling B to a hose member (not shown) and is then engagedwith the sewer conduit, it being understood that the cable for drawingit has first been passed through the sewer and attached to the eye G andthat the trailing cable has been attached to the eye B. Water is thensupplied through the hose and passes through the hollow core A and portsJ into the channel I from which it is distributed through the nozzle D.As these discharge tangentially, the reaction will impart rotarymovement to the head C, causing the blades E and F to cut through anysolid material lodged in the conduit. Also, centrifugal action willthrow the brushes F outward to press the same against the wall of theconduit. The reaction from the rotary head is taken by the runners Kwhich are in frictional contact with the outer wall of the conduit. Thiswill also hold the core member A and turbine head in the center of theconduit so as to produce an equal cleaning action upon all sidesthereof. The parts are preferably so proportioned that when the slidablesleeves M are in contact with the top collars N, the dimension betweenopposite runners is substantially the same as the diameter of theconduit. If, however, any obstruction is encountered, which holds one ormore of said runners from advancement, the spring 0 will yield,permitting the collapsing of the runners so as to pass the obstruction.

It sometimes happens that due either to exceptional misalignment or someother cause, it will be impossible to pass the tool forward through thisobstructed portion. In that event it is necessary to draw the toolbackward to remove it from the sewer. Therefore an important feature ofour improvement is the construction through which the tool will collapsewith equal facility to pass obstructions when drawn in either direction.The construction which permits of functioning in this manner comprisesessentially the oppositely inclined links attached to sleeves which areon opposite sides of the stop collar, such construction being duplicatedat opposite ends of the runners. Thus as the draft is transmitted fromthe core member A through the stop collars to the sleeve Which is inadvance of said collar in the direction of movement of the tool, it isobvious that any obstruction which prevents one or more of the runnersfrom advancing will at once cause a collapsing of all of the runners. Itis also obvious that the same effect will be produced when the tool isdrawn rearward, as well as when it is advanced in a forward direction.The spring 0 is of such tension as to hold the runners from collapsingin the normal movement of the tool, so that the turbine will be heldcentrally of the conduit excepting where there is some abnormalobstruction. If, however, the open area of the conduit is restricted bysome impediment which can not be dislodged, then the tool willautomatically collapse to a diameter which will pass through the openarea, still maintaining it central with respect to this area.

As has been stated, the tool is preferably so proportioned as to contactthe runners with the wall of the conduit when in full expanded position,with the sleeve M in contact with the stop collars N. To adapt the toolfor conduits which are larger, the runners K may be removed and replacedby other runners K provided with inwardly extending portions K to whichthe links L are pivoted. This will enlarge the dimension between theouter faces of opposite runners. A

similar effect could be produced by exchanging the toggle links L or bysubstituting stop collars N of. greater or lesser width.

A turbine head C is preferably provided for each size of conduit to becleaned. This permits of placing the nozzles D at a minimum workableclearance from the conduit wall where it is most effective in overcomingthe resistance to rotation offered by the knives E, brushes F and knivesF The location of the nozzles D at a minimum clearance from the conduitwall also affords a means of directing the emerging water jet at closerange, without spreading or loss of force, spirally helically along theconduit wall in a most effective manner for scouring. In Fig. 2 one sizeof head is shown in full lines and another size indicated in dottedlines.

The spiral or helical wash so produced is most effective in carryingforward and ejecting from the sewer all materials removed by the actionof the tool. As debris accumulates ahead of the tool and heavier objectslodge at the bottom of the conduit the spiral or helical wash impingeson the heavy objects and causes them to roll or slide upward along thecurved conduit wall and over the top of the accumulation of debris. Awash parallel to the axis of the conduit on the other hand tends only toimbed the heavy objects deeper into the debris with the result that theybecome resistant to wash and eventually completely block the sewer inadvance of the machine and render the operation of the machineineffective.

The centrifugally actuated brushes F, in addition to brushing theinterior of the sewer free of all small objects passing the knives E,also insure that the turbine head C will at no time attain a peripheralspeed equal to the velocity of the water as it emerges from the nozzleD, which would result in the water being projected axially along thesewer. These brushes F retard the speed of rotation of the turbine headC such that the water emerging from the nozzles D has a circularvelocity with respect to the conduit wall opposite to the rotation ofthe turbine head C which velocity combines with the axial velocityproduced by the forwardly directed nozzles D causing the wash to assumea spiral rotation at all times even should the knives E encounter noresistance. This inter-relationship of the brushes F and the spiral washis very essential to the successful operation of the machine.

The knives F are placed with relationship to the brushes F and the pivotF such that, regardless of extent of brush wear, the knives F contactonly material clinging to the sewer wall assisting the brushing action.Furthermore the knives F do not contact the sewer wall at such time asthe turbine head C is passing a tap or Y opening into the sewer. Thebrush is then unrestrained by the opening in the sewer wall and free torotate to a radial position. Upon rotation to the far side of the tap orY the brush F, standing in a radial position, encounters the wall of theY and is thrown back into its normal trailing position without the knifeF encountering any part of the sewer wall which would result in ruptureof the latter. This combination of knives F and brush F is veryefiective in the removal of mats of fine roots adhering closely to thesewer wall.

As the turbine head C must be free to revolve about the core A, and asthe water discharged by the nozzles passes through the ports J into thechannel I, some portion of this water will leak through the crevicebetween the revolving and non-revolving parts. To lessen this loss andto avoid washing away the lubricant from the bearing surface, we havedesigned the head so as to form a break joint around which the leakagemust pass. Thus as shown in Fig. 1, the inwardly extending portions C ofthe head C come into close proximity to the outer surface of the coremember A while the portions C constituting the journals bear against thesurface H of the collar H and correspondingly against the bearing G ofthe cap G. Ports P are connected with the crevice or annular groovebetween the revolving and non-revolving members which permit the escapeof any leakage before it reaches the lubricated bearings H and G. Thuswater which leaks from the channel I between the portions C and the coremember A, first meets the obstruction of the collar H or bearing G,compelling a change in direction, while the ports P provide an escapebefore the water is forced between the lubricated surfaces.

When the tool is drawn into a manhole of small dimensions the cableattached to the eye G on the cap G may contact with the pulling jackbefore the whole length of tool is clear from the sewer. If this is thecase the cable can be detached from the eye G and attached to the loopsor eyes N on the collar N, which will permit of pulling the tool toclear. The function of the second loop B on the fitting B is to engagesaid fitting with an anchorage in the manhole to prevent the tool frombeing drawn back into the sewer by the resiliency of the hose before thelatter is detached, and also to prevent it from rotating during theunscrewing of the tool from the fitting. Thus a bar or other means maybe inserted through the loop B and will serve the purpose of such ananchorage.

An important feature of the construction is that jet nozzles arearranged at the periphery of the head so as to direct the jetstangentially of the inner wall of the sewer close to the surfacethereof. Also these jets are slightly inclined to the axis of the headso as'to impart to the water stream a spiral movement. Such constructionhas the advantages, first, that the jet being at the end of a longradius arm will impart a greater torque to the head than a jet arrangednearer the center of rotation, thereby increasing the efliciency of thecutting knives; second, the spiral direction of the stream of waterdischarged in advance of the tool will carry with it the loosened debrisas would not be possible with a stream directed longitudinally of theconduit. This is for the reason that the spiral movement tends to liftthe heavy particles along one side of the conduit and then drop the sameinto the stream to be propelled forward.

Another important feature of the turbine head construction is that thehydraulic pressure is substantially balanced, inasmuch as the area onthe front and rear side of the annular channel are equal. There is aslight backward reaction due to the inclination of the jet to the axisof the tool, but this is not sufiicient to be objectionable. Stillanother feature is that the construction is one which offers the leastresistance to the flow of water to the jets. The rotation of the headand the water in the channel thereof, together with its tangentialdischarge, forms in effect an ejector and even if the propelled waterpressure were to cease, the continued rotation of the head understreamlined so as to offer the least resistance to its movement.

To adapt the tool for cleaning sewers of different diameters, whileretaining high eificiency in operation, the construction is such as topermit of readily removing and exchanging, not only the runners but alsothe turbine head. Thus by merely unscrewing the cap G the turbine may beremoved and a larger or smaller one substituted therefor, according tothe size of the sewer to be cleaned. The runners may also be exchangedas previously described.

The frame or carriage which is mounted on the hollow core has a floatingconnection therewith due to the fact that the sleeves Mare free toeither revolve or slide thereon. This is advantageous as it relieves thelinks L from any lateral strain and also permits the tool to adjustitself to conditions within the conduit. The stop collars which engagethe sleeves limit the outward expansion of the frame so that in case thetool passes an opening in the side of the sewer the runners will notexpand and catch in said opening. This also prevents excessive frictionagainst the walls of the sewer as would be the case if the runners wereresiliently pressed thereagainst. Due to the floating mounting of thecarriage, either end of the runners may collapse independently of the.other end. Thus when passing an obstruction the uncollapsed end willstill serve as a guide while the other end is collapsed to avoid saidobstruction.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In a sewer cleaning tool, the combination with a hollow core memberhaving ports therein and a water supply conduit connected thereto, of aturbine revolubly mounted on said hollow core member and provided withan inwardly opening channel communicating with said ports in said coremember, and a break joint journal bearing on said core member for saidrevoluble turbine provided with vent means connecting with the break inthe joint for escape of leakage water.

2. In a sewer cleaning tool, a carriage for the cleaning meanscomprising a core member, a plurality of runners extendinglongitudinally and on opposite sides thereof, a pair of sleeves slidablymounted on said core member, a stop connected to said core memberarranged between said sleeves, links inclining oppositely for connectingthe sleeves on opposite sides of said stop with each of said runners andresilient means for yieldably pressing one of said sleeves against saidstop.

3. In a sewer cleaning tool, a carriage for the cleaning meanscomprising a core member, a plurality of runners extendinglongitudinally and on opposite sides of said core member, a plurality ofsleeves slidably mounted on said core member and arranged in pairs, astop connected to said hollow core member between each pair of sleeves,links inclining oppositely connecting the sleeves on opposite sides ofsaid stop to each of said runners, and a coil spring sleeved on saidcore member abutting against one sleeve of each pair to resiliently andyieldably press said sleeves in contact with their respective stops.

4. In a sewer cleaning tool, the combination with a hollow core memberhaving ports therein and a water supply conduit connected thereto, of aturbine revolubly mounted on said hollow core member and provided withan inwardly opening channel communicating with said ports in said coremember, a break joint journal bearing on said core member, the outerportion of which is her, the links at opposite end portions beingoppositely inclined and in an axial plane, resilient means actuatingsaid slidable links to bias the runners outwardly, and stop means onsaid core to limit the travel of the slidable links and the outwardmovement of the runners.

STUART M. WEAVER. ROBERT E. NEIS.

